CURWENSVILLE—-In what was perhaps the final home game of the year for Curwensville, senior Philip Michaels poured in twelve fourth quarter points to lead the Tide to a 68-59 comeback victory over a very game West Branch Warrior squad Monday night. Michaels drained two of his four three pointers in the final frame to propel the Tide to their third straight victory leaving them at 13-9 on the season.
The Tide started out on a 10-2 run in the first, but senior guard Alan Crowell came up with 8 points in the opening quarter to give West Branch a 18-16 margin after one. The Warriors stretched the lead in the second to go up at the half 34-31. Crowell had five three pointers on the night, four in the first half to pace the visitors.
In the third period the Tide turned on the defensive heat with a full court press in the final minute to cut the lead by one. After three West Branch was still up, but only by one, 46-45. Curwensville then outscored the Warriors 23-13 in the final eight minutes 23-13 to pull out in front and secure the victory. Curwensville was 7 for 8 from the free line in the fourth and 8 for 9 on the evening.
The Tide and Warriors both had a balanced scoring night with Michaels leading all scores with 23. Shawn Sopic and Craig Bartlett hit for twelve each and Brandon McDonald chipped in with ten for Matt Wassil’s team. The Warriors were lead by 17 from Crowell while Chris Dotts had 15 and Tyler Ferguson scored 11 for coach Bill Etchinson and his West Branch team. The Warriors are now
8-13 on the season and have lost several close games as a young and upcoming squad.
Curwensville won the junior varsity tilt 48-46 in the evenings first game.
The Tide travel to Philipsburg tonight as they go up against the Mounties in a game that was rescheduled from early December due to the length of the Curwensville football season.
TOTALS
WEST BRANCH—- Chris Dotts 7 0-0 15, Tyler Ferguson 5 1-4 11, Alan Crowell 6 0-0 17, Nick Zimmerman 2 2-2 6, Ethan Lidgett 3 2-4 8, Chad Ling 0 0-0 0 and Jesse Husted 1 0-0 2.
TOTALS 24 5-10 59
CURWENSVILLE—-Philip Michaels 8 3-3 23, Shawn Sopic 4 4-4 12, Ben McGary 1 0-0 2, Brandon McDonald 5 0-0 10, Craig Bartlett 5 0-0 12, David Kalgren 1 1-2 3, Joey Palmer 2 0-0 4 and Ryan Gardner 1 0-0 2.
TOTALS 27 8-9 68
THREE POINTERS—- CURWENSVILLE (6) …..Michaels – 4 and Bartlett – 2.
WEST BRANCH (6)…..Crowell – 5 and Dotts -1
SCORE BY QUARTERS
WEST BRANCH 18 16 12 13 59
CURWENSVILLE 16 15 14 23 68
